- Discussion:
     - major blood supply to gluteus medius and minimus;
     - superior gluteal artery and nerve leave the pelvis above piriformis;
     - emerges above piriformis, after passing thru greater sciatic foramen;
     - once pass the notch, it divides into:
            - superficial branch supplying maximus;
            - deep branch
                  - enters deep surface of medius in intermuscular plane between medius, gluteus minimus, & tensor fasciae lata;
                  - this attachment tethers muscle limiting amount of upward retraction of muscle and prevents one from reaching the iliac crest;
     - arterial branches reach as far as the anterior superior iliac spine.
     - terminal branches anastomose w/ ascending branch of LFCA ;

- Hazards:
    - superior gluteal artery appears to be vulnerable to a shearing force because of acute angulation of vessel as it passes out of pelvis;
    - superior gluteal artery may be severed by sharp fascia of piriformis, even w/ a minimally displaced frx;
    - superior gluteal artery is at risk during operative procedures on greater sciatic foramen

Spontaneous gluteal artery rupture resulting in compartment syndrome and sciatic neuropathy. Report of a case in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

The Superior Gluteal Artery in Complex Acetabular Procedures. A Cadaveric Angiographic Study.

Preoperative angiographic assessment of the superior gluteal artery in acetabular fractures requiring extensile surgical exposures.